Tutorials / Everyday Workflows

BeginnerPro feature

Save and Restore a Complete Workspace

BetterStage v1.3.0 protects your latest arrangement automatically and lets Pro users keep named restore points. This guide shows when to rely on Workspace Continuity, when to create a Saved Workspace, and what happens if a display is missing.

BetterStage Workspaces settings with automatic recovery and Saved Workspace controls
Automatic recovery is free; named Saved Workspaces are available with Pro.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Arrange the workspace you want to keep

    Set up your stages across every display, choose each monitor's Window Mode, and place windows into Bento Box tiles or Tabbed Layout panes. A Saved Workspace captures the arrangement as a whole, not just the active stage.

  2. 2

    Save a named Workspace

    Open the BetterStage menu bar or Snap Wheel and choose Save Workspace. Give the snapshot a useful name such as Docked Development or Client Presentation, then confirm the displays to include. Saved Workspaces require Pro.

  3. 3

    Load it when you need it

    Choose Load Workspace from the menu bar or Snap Wheel. Review the visual preview and confirm. BetterStage restores the stages, window modes, pane structure, and matching windows as one operation, reopening supported apps when needed.

  4. 4

    Handle a missing display

    If a saved display is not connected, BetterStage keeps the choice visible instead of partially loading the arrangement. Connect the display, map its workspace to a display that is available, or cancel safely.

  5. 5

    Let Continuity handle everyday recovery

    You do not need to save after every small change. Workspace Continuity keeps a local checkpoint automatically and restores it after BetterStage restarts, your Mac wakes, or displays reconnect. If a display disappears, open the Stages Bar to find its Offline Display Shelf card.

Tips

  • Use Saved Workspaces for intentional templates; use automatic continuity for the latest state you were actually working in.
  • Rename and delete snapshots from Settings > Workspaces.
  • Keep a presentation or travel workspace that maps cleanly to fewer displays than your main desk.

Frequently asked questions

Is automatic workspace recovery a Pro feature?

No. Automatic Workspace Continuity is available on the free tier. Creating and loading named Saved Workspaces is a Pro feature.

Where is workspace recovery data stored?

Workspace checkpoints and Saved Workspaces are stored locally on your Mac; BetterStage does not upload their window or layout data.

What happens when an app is closed before I load a Workspace?

The preview shows apps that may need to be reopened. BetterStage can launch supported apps and continues matching their windows while the workspace loads.

Try it yourself

BetterStage is free for up to three stages with full snap zones, and includes a 10-day trial of every Pro feature — AI Staging, Bento Box auto-tiling, Tabbed Layouts, and Pinned Displays.

Download BetterStage

Related tutorials

Organize Multiple Monitors into Focused Workspaces

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Save and Reuse Window Layouts with Presets

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Replace macOS Spaces with Stages

Move from unnamed, slow-animating Spaces to named stages that switch instantly.